Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France

At the heart of the bustling cosmopolitan city of Paris, the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile is the most eminent symbol of France's national history. Sculpted and carved on four sides with battle scenes, this architectural wonder was erected in honour of those who fought for France during the Napoleonic Wars and remains the symbol and gathering place of the people whenever France is victorious. You can't miss this 167 foot tall monument at the west end of the Champs-Elysées, crowning the star junction where 12 prestigious avenues radiate out from the arch. The views of Paris from the roof of the Arc de Triomphe are spectacular: looking eastwards, down the Champs Elysées towards the Louvre, there is the Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries Gardens, and the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. In the opposite direction, westwards, you'll see its larger and newer cousin in the distance, La Grande Arc de la Défense. Underneath its fabulous structure, the arch shelters the Grave of the Unknown Soldier from World War II and the Eternal Flame symbolizing the victims of both wars.